The Jolly Dead March
If I ever be worthy or famous—
Which I’m sadly beginning to doubt—
When the angel whose place ’tis to name us
Shall say to my spirit, ‘Pass out!’
I wish for no sniv’lling about me
(My work was the work of the land),
But I hope that my country will shout me
The price of a decent brass band.
Thump! thump! of the drum and ‘Ta-ra-rit,’
Thump! thump! and the music—it’s grand,
If only in dreams, or in spirit,
To ride or march after the band!
And myself and my mourners go straying,
And strolling and drifting along
With a band in the front of us playing
The tune of an old battle song!
I ask for no ‘turn-out’ to bear me;
I ask not for railings or slabs,
And spare me! my country—oh, spare me!
The hearse and the long string of cabs!
I ask not the baton or ‘starts’ of
The bore with the musical ear,
But the music that’s blown from the hearts of
The men who work hard and drink beer.
And let ’em strike up ‘Annie Laurie,’
And let them burst out with ‘Lang Syne’—
Twin voices of sadness and glory,
That have ever been likings of mine.
And give the French war-hymn deep-throated
The Watch of the Germans between,
And let the last mile be devoted
To ‘Britannia’ and ‘Wearing the Green.’
And if, in the end—more’s the pity—
There is fame more than money to spare—
There’s a van-man I know in the city
Who’ll convey me, right side up with care.
True sons of Australia, and noble,
Have gone from the long dusty way,
While the sole mourner fought down his trouble
With his pipe on the shaft of the dray.
But let them strike up ‘Annie Laurie,’ &c.
And my spirit will join the procession—
Will pause, if it may, on the brink—
Nor feel the least shade of depression
When the mourners drop out for a drink;
It may be a hot day in December,
Or a cold day in June it may be,
And the drink will but help them remember
The good points the world missed in me.
And help ’em to love ‘Annie Laurie,’
And help ’em to raise ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ &c.
‘Unhook the West Port’ for an orphan,
An old digger chorus revive—
If you don’t hear a whoop from the coffin,
I am not being buried alive.
But I’ll go with a spirit less bitter
Than mine own on the earth may have been,
And, perhaps, to save trouble, Saint Peter
Will pass me, two comrades between.
And let them strike up ‘Annie Laurie,’
And let ’em burst out with ‘Lang Syne,’
Twin voices of sadness and glory
That have ever been likings of mine.
Let them swell the French war-hymn deep-throated
(And I’ll not buck at ‘God Save the Queen’),
But let the last mile be devoted
To ‘Britannia’ and ‘Wearing the Green.’
Thump! thump! of the drums we inherit—
War-drums of my dreams! Oh it’s grand,
If only in fancy or spirit,
To ride or march after a band!
And we, the World-Battlers, go straying
And loving and laughing along—
With Hope in the lead of us playing
The tune of a life-battle song!
poem by Henry Lawson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Auld Lang Syne
(r.burns)
Traditional new years eves song. jeff performed it live at mercury lounge, new york, on december 31 1995.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
Well tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
And surely yell be your pint stowp
And surely Ill be mine!
And well tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
Well tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes
And poud the gowans fine
But weve wanderd mony a weary fit
Sin auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
Well tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidld in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But seas between us briad hae roard
Sin auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
Well tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
And theres a hand, my trusty fere
And gies a hand o thine
And well tak a right gude-willie waught
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
Well tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
song performed by by Jeff Buckley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Old Tunes
When friends are listening round me, Jack, to hear my dying breath,
And I am lying in a sleep they say will end in death,
Don’t notice what the doctor says—and let the nurse complain——
I’ll tell you how to rouse me if I’ll ever wake again.
Just you bring in your fiddle, Jack, and set your heart in tune,
And strike up “Annie Laurie”, or “The Rising of the Moon”;
And if you see no token of a rising in my throat,
You’ll need to brace your mouth, old man—I’m booked by Charon’s boat.
And if you are not satisfied that I am off the scene,
Strike up “The Marseillaise”, or else “The Wearing of the Green”;
And should my fingers tremble not, then I have crossed the line,
But keep your fingers steady, Jack, and strike up “Auld Lang Syne”.
poem by Henry Lawson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?
CHORUS
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin’ auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin’ auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty fiere !
and gies a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
poem by Robert Burns
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
Well take a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run aboot the braes
And poud the gowans fine;
Weve wanderd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
We two hae paidled i the burn,
Frae mornin sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roard
Sin auld lang syne.
And heres a hand, my trusty friend,
And gies a hand o thine;
Well take a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
Well take a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
Well take a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Sound Of Youth Passing
Why is it
that little children
who weigh
almost nothing
move like a herd of elephants?
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The three day Rock concert
Pitch your tent in the rain
put money and phone in pockets
hope no thieves around
remember the last time?
Make way to the beer tent
then have a good walk about
your favourite band will be on soon.
Try and get down to the front
but you end up crushed in the middle
by now your covered in mud.
Still you don't care because
you've had a good drink
and the music is loud and great.
Everyone is jumping and moving
to the heavy metal thump thump
your having a fantastic time.
You do this for three days
then you pack up your tent
your worn out and tired
but you'll be back next year.
The great British Rock concert
music, rain, mud, blocked up toilets,
weak beer, hot dogs, drugs,
as British as Fish and Chips!
poem by Kevin Halls
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Frosty The Snowman
Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal
Frosty the Snowman
Is a fairytale they say
He was made of snow
But the children know
How he came to life one day
There must have been some magic
In that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around
Frosty the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me
Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away
Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square
Saying catch me if you can
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler stop
Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye
Saying don't you cry
I'll be back again some day
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow
song performed by by Ella Fitzgerald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lady Gaga
She has 'it'!
But what is 'it'...
That everyone admits,
Is hip?
It's that staccato,
That belongs to Lady Gaga.
The beat is fresh and really rips.
No one who hears it can just sit.
She came upon the scene as Lady Gaga.
'Gimme lights.
I gotta move my hips.
Step left to right.
And shake my rear.
With nuevo class.
And a bass that pumps.
Rock nonstoppin'
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump! '
'Gimme lights.
I gotta move my hips.
Step left to right.
And shake my rear.
With nuevo class.
And a bass that pumps.
Rock nonstoppin'
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump! '
It's that staccato,
That belongs to Lady Gaga.
'Gimme lights.
I gotta move my hips.
Step left to right.
And shake my rear.
With nuevo class.
And a bass that pumps.
Rock nonstoppin'
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump
de thump.
Feel that thump! '
'Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more...'
Lady Gaga!
'Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more...'
Two-Three
'Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more.
Pump up that thump.
Gimme more...'
Lady Gaga!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Long Live Love
(valerie avon/harold spiro)
Long, long live love
Love is to care
Caring and sharing
Long, long live love
All the kids like ten tin soldiers in a row
Followed hand in hand
Sister anna carrying the banner for the sally annie band
Singing songs of praise and glory
We all learn to love their story
Good things are coming to you
Glory, glory hallelujah
Long, long live love
As long as we live
Living and giving
Long, long live love
On a wet day, dry day, great to be alive day
Brother takes the stand
Cymbals ringing, everybody singing with the sally annie band
Just a band of happy people
Teaching, preaching love is equal
When you feel the spirit move you
Glory, glory hallelujah
Long, long live love
Love is to care
Caring and sharing
Long, long live love, love, love, love, love
Ohhh
Long, long live love
As long as we live
Living forgiving
Long, long live love
song performed by by Olivia Newton-John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Christmas Auld Lang Syne
When mistletoe and tinsel glow
Paint a yuletide valentine
Back home I go to those I know
For a christmas auld lang syne
And as we gather round the tree
Our voices all combine
In sweet accord to thank our lord
For a christmas auld lang syne
When sleigh bells ring and choirs sing
And the childrens faces shine
With each new toy we share their joy
With a christmas auld lang syne
We sing his praise this day of days
And pray next year this time
Well all be near to share the cheer
Of a christmas auld lang syne
In sweet accord to thank our lord
For a christmas auld lang syne
song performed by by Gloria Estefan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Best Teacher
she is my best teacher
my love teacher
she taught i to kiss
taught i how to miss.
She ushered me into the circle of love
where my head spinned of her glory
she moulded my fragile heart
with precision she ignited it.
Thump thump thump!
It goes in her presence
i feel it
i see it in her eyes
the gleam the twinkle
speak of a sincere love
i guess am understanding
this lesson of love.
poem by Pen anthony
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Jump And Thump
Jump and thump.
Move your hump.
Jump and thump.
Move your hump.
Jump and thump.
Move your hump.
Jump and thump.
Move your hump.
Jump and thump.
Jump and thump.
When you're drunk,
jump and thump.
Move your hump.
Jump and thump,
when you're drunk.
Jump and thump.
Jump and thump.
When you're drunk.
Jump and thump.
(Transcribed by ear; corrections requested and welcomed!)
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strike Up The Band
Let the drums roll out
Let the trumpet call
While the people shout
Strike up the band
Hear the cymbals ring
Callin one and all
To the martial swing,
Strike up the band
There is work to be done, to be done
Theres a war to be won, to be won
Come, you son of a son of a gun,
Take your stand
Fall in line, yea a bow
Come along, lets go
Hey, leader, strike up the band!
There is work to be done, to be done
Theres a war to be won, to be won
Come, you son of a son of a gun,
Take your stand
Fall in line, yea a bow
Come on, lets go
Hey, leader, strike up
Hey, leader, strike up
Hey, leader, strike up the band
song performed by by Ella Fitzgerald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Beat Or Leave Or Keep It Rocked
I may not have clock stopping beauty.
Or manners of a hip hop, pop or rock star.
Chocked full of hits at the top of the charts.
But...
Whatever this is I've got,
You're free to block it.
Keep it from feet to rock.
Or try to stop it.
Whether it's liked or not.
I bake and eat my own cake.
Feel free to knock it.
Choose if you wish to debate.
Feel free to knock it.
I don't berate to hate.
Feel free to knock it.
And in my own shoes I don't shake.
Feel free to knock it.
Keep it from feet to rock.
You're free to block it.
Whether it's liked or not.
Thumpity-thump-thump-thump...
You' re free to block it.
Thumpity-thump-thump-thump...
Keep it from feet to rock.
Thumpity-thump-thump-thump...
You're free to block it.
Keep it from feet to rock.
Feel free to knock it.
Beat or leave or keep it rocked!
Thumpity-thump-thump,
Beat or leave or keep it rocked!
Thumpity-thump-thump,
Beat or leave or keep it rocked!
Thumpity-thump-thump,
Beat or leave or keep it rocked!
Whether it is liked or not.
I may not have clock stopping beauty.
Or manners of a hip hop, pop or rock star.
Chocked full of hits at the top of the charts.
But...
Whatever this is I've got,
You're free to block it.
Keep it from feet to rock.
Or try to stop it.
Whether it's liked or not.
Feel free to knock it.
Beat or leave or keep it rocked!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Blow Away
One of the band told me last night
That music is all that he's got in his life.
So where does it go?
Surely not with his soul.
Will all of his licks and his r'n'b
Blow away?
Blow away
Blow away
Our engineer had a different idea
From people who nearly died but survived,
Feeling no fear of leaving their bodies here,
And went to a room that was soon full of visitors.
Hello minnie, moony, vicious, vicious, buddy holly, sandy denny.
Please don't thump me,
Don't bump me,
Don't dump me back there.
Please don't thump me,
Don't bump me,
I want to stay here.
Put out the light, then, put out the light.
Vibes in the sky invite you to dine.**
Dust to dust,
Blow to blow.
Bolan and moony are heading the show tonight.
Hello minnie, moony, ("bill " [?]), vicious, vicious,
Buddy holly, sandy denny.
Please don't thump me,
Don't bump me,
Don't dump me back there.
Please don't thump me,
Don't bump me,
I want to stay here.
song performed by by Kate Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Thump!
old bodies...
become small at night,
shaken with solitude,
swallowed up by the womb.
hands that built fires,
gnarled, clench and unclench.
the old clay pot
filled with silent dirt.
coats hung on the hook,
boots that dont travel.
telephone lines cut,
the ink fades on the page.
thump! thump! thump!
old hearts still pound.
and the darkness is sticky
with the memory of fire!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Weary Blues
Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
I heard a Negro play.
Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light
He did a lazy sway ....
He did a lazy sway ....
To the tune o' those Weary Blues.
With his ebony hands on each ivory key
He made that poor piano moan with melody.
O Blues!
Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
Sweet Blues!
Coming from a black man's soul.
O Blues!
In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone
I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan--
"Ain't got nobody in all this world,
Ain't got nobody but ma self.
I's gwine to quit ma frownin'
And put ma troubles on the shelf."
Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.
He played a few chords then he sang some more--
"I got the Weary Blues
And I can't be satisfied.
Got the Weary Blues
And can't be satisfied--
I ain't happy no mo'
And I wish that I had died."
And far into the night he crooned that tune.
The stars went out and so did the moon.
The singer stopped playing and went to bed
While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.
He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.
poem by Langston Hughes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Join Together
When you here this sound a-comin,
Hear the drummers drumming,
I want you to join together with the band,
We dont move in any ticular direction,
And we dont make no collections,
I want you to join together with the band.
Do you really think I care,
What you read or what you wear,
I want you to join together with the band,
Theres a million ways to laugh,
And every ones a path,
Come on and join together with the band.
Everybody join together, I want you to join together,
Come on and join together with the band,
We need you to join together, come on and join together,
Come on and join together with the band.
You dont have to play,
You can follow or lead the way,
I want you to join together with the band,
We dont know where were going,
But the seasons right for knowing,
I want you to join together with the band.
Its the singer not the song,
That makes the music move along,
I want you to join together with the band,
This is the biggest band youll find,
Its as deep as it is wide,
Come on and join together with the band,
Hey hey hey hey hey hey, well everybody come on.
Come on and join, join together with the band,
We need you to join together, everybody come on,
Hey hey hey, join together with the band.
song performed by by Who
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rubber Band
Rubber band
Theres a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune
In the library garden sunday afternoon
While a little chappie waves a golden wand
Rubber band
In 1910 I was so handsome and so strong
My moustache was stiffly waxed and one foot long
And I loved a girl while you played teatime tunes
Dear rubber band, youre playing my tune out of tune
Oh
Rubber band
Wont you play a haunting theme again to me
While I eat my scones and drink my cup of tea
The sun is warm but its a lonely afternoon
Oh, play that theme
Rubber band
How I wish that I could join your rubber band
We could play in lively parks throughout the land
And one sunday afternoon, Id find my love
Rubber band,
In the 14-18 war I went to sea
Thought my sunday love was waiting home for me
And now shes married to the leader of the band, oh
Oh yeah... I hope you break your baton
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Blow Away (For Bill)
One of the band told me last night
That music is all that hes got in his life.
So where does it go?
Surely not with his soul.
Will all of his licks and his rnb
Blow away?
Blow away
Blow away
Our engineer had a different idea
From people who nearly died but survived,
Feeling no fear of leaving their bodies here,
And went to a room that was soon full of visitors.
Hello minnie, moony, vicious, vicious, buddy holly, sandy denny.
Please dont thump me,
Dont bump me,
Dont dump me back there.
Please dont thump me,
Dont bump me,
I want to stay here.
Put out the light, then, put out the light.
Vibes in the sky invite you to dine.**
Dust to dust,
Blow to blow.
Bolan and moony are heading the show tonight.
Hello minnie, moony, ("bill " [? ]), vicious, vicious,
Buddy holly, sandy denny.
Please dont thump me,
Dont bump me,
Dont dump me back there.
Please dont thump me,
Dont bump me,
I want to stay here.
song performed by by Kate Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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